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1 The Family Newspaper of St Hilda’s, Ashford, Middlesex CROSSROADS Free - but donations welcome! No. 695 December 2018/January 2019
Transcript

1

The Family Newspaper of St Hilda’s, Ashford, Middlesex

CROSSROADS

Free - but donations welcome!

No. 695 December 2018/January 2019

2

The Parish of St Hilda, Ashford in the Diocese of London

Charity Reg. No. 1134119

Vicar Fr. Joseph Fernandes Phone: 01784 254237 e-mail: [email protected]

Parish Office St Hilda’s Parish Office, Stanwell Road Ashford, Middlesex TW15 3QL

Phone: 01784 245712 e-mail: [email protected]

Church Web site: Facebook: Streetlife: Twitter:

www.sthilda.org StHildaAshford st-hildas @St_Hilda_Ashfrd

Parish PA: Helen Stroudley Contact via Parish Office

Lay Ministers: Carolyn Clark Rosalyn Young

Contact via Parish Office

Church Wardens: Gordon Clark Bobbie Bedford

Contact via Parish Office

Church Hall Booking Secretary: Chris Davenport Phone: 01784 252170

CROSSROADS

Editor: Rosemary Greenwood e-mail: [email protected]

Circulation: Valerie Scott Phone: 254748

Advertising: Contact via Parish Office

Sunday 08.00 Eucharist

09.30 Parish Eucharist

09.30

10:45

Junior Church

Coffee after service

Chris Davenport 252170

Tuesday 09.45 Eucharist

Wednesday 20.00 Bible Study Group Rosemary Greenwood

Friday 19.00 Choir Practice

Normal Weekly Services and Events Leader / contact / notes

3

The Greatest Showman was a highlight of the movie season in

2017. The Christian potential of the lyrics of the iconic song

This is Me, not intended by the songwriters, were quickly

appropriated by several churches, who started playing it and

dancing to it. Fast forward to 2018 and it also made an

appearance at St Hilda’s Got Talent, back in September, which

highlights its prevalent popularity. Its success lies in the

combination of powerful vocals, excellent choreography and

stirring lyrics. Some of the words sound harsh, but they are a call to arms, coming

from a place deep within, crying out for recognition, for triumph over prejudice and

discrimination, acknowledging the harshness of life, the bruises that come with it:

“Run away, they say, no one’ll love as you are, but I won’t let them break me down

to dust… I won’t let the shame sink in… When the sharpest words wanna cut me

down… I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies… I am brave, I am bruised,

I am who I’m meant to be... This is me”.

There are echoes here of several Bible passages: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are

afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”; Psalm 23:4 “Even

though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you

are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”; Joshua 1:9 “Have I not

commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be

dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”; and Isaiah

54:17 “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute

every tongue that rises against you in judgement”.

By now you are probably wondering why on earth is this connected with

Christmas? The key lies in one key verse of the song: “This is me and I know that I

deserve your love”. When looking at the Bible, it becomes clear why Jesus was

incarnate: 1 John 4:9-11 “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent

his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not

that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice

for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one

another”; John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have

seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”

Despite our brokenness, our imperfections, our bruises, our struggles, our

difficulties, God seeks us and accepts who we are, regardless of where we are. It is

not cheap grace, it is unconditional love. God does not hide in churches, God does

not hide amongst a select few, God is out on the streets, amongst those on the

margins, amongst those who struggle, amongst those who suffer, amongst those

who are not perfect, amongst those who are broken, which means all of us. We do

not need to make any apologies for who we are, we deserve God’s love, we deserve

his Son, we deserve Christmas: “Look out 'cause here I come”.

Fr. Joseph Fernandes

4

POPPIES

Some time ago at a PCC meeting the idea was raised about marking the

centenary of the end of WW1. Before I knew it, I was suggesting an idea

that I had seen on Facebook about painting the bottom of bottles red and

black and adding green pea sticks on the back to make poppies. It was an

idea that I had seen last year on various Girl Guiding Facebook pages and

that I had intended on doing with my Brownies this year.

The months went on and I was reminded of my suggestion. A sample was

made and was shown at a later PCC meeting and at the beginning of

September I showed my sample and announced my idea in church one

Sunday morning. I asked for the bottoms of bottles that have five “lobes” on

the bottom of them which when looked at from the inside, lend their shape to

looking like a poppy.

Over the weeks bottles have arrived in church and, along with the help of

Chris Davenport, have been cut down to the required size. I have then been

sticking the sticks on the back with a hot glue gun and adding them to the

crate ready for painting. Help was asked for them to be painted and on a

Saturday morning along with a team of volunteers, we began the mammoth

task of transforming them.

Almost 500 bottles have been transformed into poppies which have now

been “planted” outside on the north side of the church for everyone to see.

Unfortunately we had run out of paint before finishing them all, so a further

175ish were done later, but still completed before Remembrance weekend

and added to the garden.

Along with these, we have managed to get hold of a “There But Not There”

Soldier silhouette which has been placed on a chair within the Nave of the

church. These have been designed by the Royal British Legion to be put into

places to remember the fallen of the First World War.

Well done and thank you to everyone who has helped.

Christine Makriel

Well done and thank you to Christine, for her inspiration and hard work.

5

Your local independent oven cleaning,

spares and repair service

All makes of ovens, hobs, extractors,

microwaves and BBQs lovingly restored

to their former glory by reliable, friendly

and fully trained experts

www.ovenman.co.uk

Call 020 8185 7069

6

Gentle Pilates Classes

Every Friday Morning 9.00

St Hilda's Small Hall.

The class is followed by a FREE WEEKLY WALK at 10:15

(non Pilates members welcome)

For more information visit www.primapilates.co.uk

Please call first as spaces are limited! 07506001406 Richard

Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor or Aga professionally cleaned

Mark Gilson contact details Tel 01932 787232, Mob tel. 07961 247550

www.ovenwizards.com

7

If you would like to help with the

mission of St. Hilda's by

contributing to the cost of

producing Crossroads, there is a

box in the back wall of the church

for donations, or use a Giftaid

envelope and write "Crossroads"

on it - or give it to your Crossroads

distributor.

Deadline for February 2019 copy is

Sunday 6th January

Deadline for March 2019 copy is

Sunday 3rd February

Post typed or written copy, CD discs or memory sticks

at the Parish Office, or e-mail:

[email protected]

An item submitted after the deadline

may be accepted for inclusion IF the

Editor has been informed by the

deadline that the item is on its way.

WANTED: used British and

foreign stamps for Princess

Alice Hospice, trimmed ¼″ all

round. Place in box at back of

church or give them to

Pauline Milton

proudly present their 2018 Pantomime,

the ever-popular story of

Cinderella

at St Hilda’s Hall

Friday 30th November at 7.45pm

Saturday 1st December at 10.30am, 2.30pm and

7.00pm

Friday 7th December at 7.45pm

Saturday 8th December at 2.30pm and 7.00pm

Tickets £10

(Concessions £8)

Box Office

01784 245298

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10

The Findings of Phoebe

The other day I found an old photograph of my grandmother whom I never

knew as she died when I was young, and it reminded me of a bible passage

where Paul praises a mum and a grandma.

I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid

out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I

love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours! Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I

thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of

my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful

good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.

That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich

faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice,

and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid

hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy

with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.

You can find this story in your Bible in the 2nd Letter to Timothy chapter 1

verses 1-7. I have used The Message translation.

This set me thinking about what the story might mean. What a wonderful

statement about the role of family.

What memories do you have or will you carry with you of your parents and

your grandparents? What role do they, did they, have in your being a

Christian and growing in your faith. Bed time stories from the Bible, singing

choruses, being taken to church and Sunday school?

But the family isn’t just those to whom we are linked by blood. There are

those who, as part of church communities have played an important part in

sharing the Christian faith with us as children and young adults.

Elsewhere Paul reminds us: The Message is as true among you today as

when you first heard it. It doesn’t diminish or weaken over time. It’s the

same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and

stronger, just as it has in you. Colossians 1:5

11

So the Family of the Church is worldwide. And we are part of that. We

are reminded of this at our Baptism and again when we are Confirmed. We

are reminded:

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

By one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.

We welcome you into the fellowship of faith,

We are children of the same heavenly Father;

We welcome you.

So give thanks to all who have supported you and continue to support you

in your Christian growth

And why not pray for a Christian community somewhere else in the world

as a reminder that we are part of a world wide family.

Think about it.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - ESPECIALLY DRIVERS!

Ashford Helping Hands is a voluntary organisation which provides

help to people in the TW15 postal area. They can always use more

volunteers and at the moment are particularly short of drivers to take

people to medical appointments etc.

If you can help, please phone Olive on 01784 245203

If you need help, phone the AHH Duty Officer on 07754 083502

between 10am and noon Monday - Friday

For more information see: www.ashfordhelpinghands.btck.co.uk

Capital Vision Prayer

Generous God, You have called us to be salt and light in this great city;

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to discern your will for your Church

as we seek to follow your Son Jesus Christ

in loving and serving our neighbours.

Give us the wisdom and strength to fulfil the vision you put before us

and help us to play our part in transforming our earthly city into a sign of

the Heavenly Jerusalem where you live and reign, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God now and for ever. Amen

12

NOTICES

ST. HILDA'S MOTHERS' UNION

Tuesday 4th December 9.45am Corporate Communion

Wednesday 12th December 8.00pm Carols by Candlelight

Tuesday 8th January 12.45pm Lunch in Small Hall: Christmas

Memories

No meeting in December or January.

From February will meet on 1st Thursday in the month

at 2.30 in church. EVERYONE IS WELCOME

7th February: Bible Timeline “What? The Bronze

Age?” 7th March: Travels with Paul

4th April: Pick and Mix time

PRAYER MEETING

Every Monday at 7.30 pm in St. Hilda's Lady Chapel

Everyone is welcome; see Carolyn Clark for more details

ST. HILDA'S 2019 CALENDAR

On sale in church in aid of church funds. £9 each or 3 for £22.

Ideal present for local people or friends from St. Hilda's who have moved away

The Editorial Team wish our advertisers, contributors, the collating

and distribution teams, and all our readers a joyful Christmas and happy

New Year, with best wishes for 2019. Thank you all for your support

this year.

Rosemary Greenwood, Mike Davenport, Chris Holliday,

Pauline Milton, Terry Rickson, Valerie Scott

13

CHRISTMAS CARD AT ST. HILDA'S

Are you looking forward to scrabbling through the crate at the back of

church for Christmas cards addressed to you? And realising that you forgot

to send one to someone? For the second year we have a solution for you!

We will again have a single large card in church addressed to everyone in

St. Hilda's, which anyone can sign. This should save some hassle, and a tiny

bit of the Earth's resources. The money you save in individual cards can be

donated to a local charity, the Penrose Club, which supports people with

learning disabilities. You are, of course, still free to give individual cards to

your friends. The card will be in church during December.

Rosemary Greenwood

ADVENT STUDY TIME

Join us as we explore some Advent Themes through

four masterpieces of Western Art over four Tuesday

mornings (24th Nov, 4th Dec, 11th Des, 18th Dec)

starting at 9.15am in the Lady Chapel, finishing with

a celebration of Holy Communion at 9.45am.

Rosalyn Young

ADVENT REFLEXIONS

Wednesdays: November 28th Watching December 5th Prophets December 12th Prepare the Way December 19th Let it be - I am the servant of the Lord

At Laleham Methodist Church 7.30 pm for 8 pm

Note that St. Hilda's Bible Study Group will not meet on these dates, to enable

members to join with our Methodist friends.

14

15

Children of St. Hilda's Church accompanied by a group of musicians

present

Hosanna Rock in

St. Hilda’s Church on Thursday 20th December at 7pm

The Story of the birth of Christ is told in simple song and dance by a group of children aged between 6 and 15, supplemented by

explanations from a narrator.

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Week of Christian Unity

18

♪♫ ♪♫ St Hilda's Choir still needs more members. If you are interested in

joining, please see Peter Pritchard or Paula Gething.

Go on - give it a try!

Our Mission Prayer:

Bless our Community. Make its people; Strong in Faith,

Steadfast in Hope, And Generous in Love.

Amen.

St Hilda’s Mothers’ Union

Jumble Sale

& Auction

on Saturday

19th January

in St Hilda’s Hall

Opens 2.00pm

Admission 50p

Goods to the Hall

from 10.00am

Phone 01784 252170

for collection

19

25 Station Road : Ashford 01784 420222

Successful in Letting Property

within the Ashford Town and District

Mention this advertisement

and when your property is

successfully let, Lockwood’s

will give a £100 donation to

St Hilda’s.

20

21

PROBLEMS FOR OLDER HIV PATIENTS

Older people with HIV are frequently lonely and depressed, many of them face

serious housing and financial hardships, and they have high rates of physical

ailments such as chronic pain, heart disease, diabetes and fatigue that can diminish

their quality of life.

All of this has been known for several years. However, services to meet their

needs still fall short, say people with HIV and the groups that support them (such as

London charities Riverhouse and CARA), and simply quantifying their mental and

physical health problems has been a challenge.

People age 50 and older make up nearly two-thirds of all those with HIV in San

Francisco and London. Most of these older adults have been infected with the virus

for 20 or more years. They are the long-term survivors: men and women who were

infected before drugs to treat HIV were widely available, when the illness was

considered a death sentence.

Though those drugs were life-saving, for many survivors, realizing they were

going to live opened a new chapter of emotional and physical challenges.

A new survey, just released, is among the first to describe the breadth of health

problems in older adults with HIV and how they are, or are not, being addressed.

The survey questioned 197 people, all age 50 or older and HIV-positive. Among the

findings:

• More than 60 percent suffer depression and about the same have serious anxiety.

Seventy percent have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Nearly half have neuropathy, a form of nerve pain likely caused by HIV or the

early drugs to treat it. Fifty-six percent have severe fatigue. On average, survey

respondents reported at least six mental or physical ailments in addition to HIV

infection.

• A quarter regularly don’t have enough money to cover their expenses. Seven

percent don’t have a permanent home. Nearly half say they sometimes don’t

have enough to eat.

• More than 1 in 4 said they have no one to turn to if they become sick or disabled

and need help with simple chores, like housework or shopping.

• Fifteen percent say they have no one to count on for emotional support.

“When you have a population that didn’t plan to live, it’s not surprising that they

would find aging challenging; there are some days when people see what a blessing

it is to be alive. And then there are the harder days.”

Or in the words of one survey respondent: “There are things worse than AIDS,

like loneliness.”

Please support United Kingdom HIV Charities, especially Riverhouse of which Fr

Chris Rogers is a Trustee, supports and helps www.riverhouseuk.org

Fr. Chris Rogers

22

BEYOND THE PARISH from Parish Pump

FIRST NON-BRITISH HEAD FOR MOTHERS' UNION

A South American woman has made history as the MU’s first non-British

Worldwide President. Sheran Harper from Guyana is the new Worldwide President

of the 142 year old movement’s four million members in 84 countries. She takes

over in January 2019 from Lynne Tembey.

Born in the United Kingdom, Harper grew up in Guyana. After her Clinical

Practice at Guy’s Hospital in London, she worked with the Ministry of Health in

Guyana where she opened and managed new physiotherapy departments in

hospitals throughout the country.

She stopped working in this area 17 years ago to focus on Mothers’ Union. She

has served as a volunteer at all levels from parish, diocese and province, and until

recently, she was the worldwide parenting trainer where she rolled out Mothers’

Union parenting programmes in 23 countries across the globe.

CHURCH IN NIGER’S CAPITAL RANSACKED AND BURNED

Attackers recently ransacked, looted and burned a church in the Kossey district of

Niger’s capital Niamey, leaving the building a charred shell, its floor covered with

debris and broken and blackened musical instruments.

Niger’s tiny Christian minority make up less than 1% of the population, but it had

traditionally lived peacefully and unthreatened alongside the large Muslim majority.

The rise of jihadist groups in the Sahel region, including Boko Haram, Islamic State

in West Africa and groups affiliated with Al Qaeda has led to an escalation in

tension.

In 2015, more than 70 churches in Niger were destroyed by Muslim mobs. There

were a number of further attacks on churches in 2017, which resulted in the deaths

of four Christians and in January 2018, three church leaders were kidnapped.

THE WOMAN BISHOP WHO DOES NOT MUCH LIKE ALL-FEMALE CLERGY AT SERVICES

It is as undesirable to see all women 'at the front' of church leading worship as it

was once to see all men 'at the front' leading worship.

So says the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, and the first female

bishop to sit in the House of Lords.

Speaking at this year's Cheltenham Literature Festival, she said: 'For me, I want

to see diverse leadership, and part of that includes men and women working

together.' She spoke of her own joy of 'discovering the joy of being in leadership

alongside men, as an equal.'

23

BISHOP CALLS FOR UK 'NET ZERO' COMMITMENT AS CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT PUBLISHED

The Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment has welcomed

indications from the UK Government that it will review long-term targets for

climate change in line with a report recently published by the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Bishop Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said: 'The Government’s decision

to ask the Committee on Climate Change to review the UK’s long-term emission

reduction target is a welcome and sensible response to our changing and very

pressing circumstances.

'The evidence shows that the risk level of climate change is now critical. Ours is

the first generation to understand this and probably the last to be able to do

something meaningful.' he said.

'This year has been the hottest on record. Extreme weather events happen with

increasing frequency, and the poorest are most vulnerable to the impact of climate

change which affects us all. For Christians, striving to safeguard the integrity of

creation, and sustaining and renewing the life of the earth is at the heart of what we

believe. We have a narrow window now to act if we are to protect God’s creation

for generations to come.

'The Church of England is playing its part with around 2,000 churches now

running on green energy tariffs, and as a voice in the ear of companies in the seven

highest emitting sectors through its investment portfolio, leading shareholder

resolutions to expedite transition to a low carbon future. We can, and we must do

more to pick up the pace of change.

'Building on the 10-year anniversary of the Climate Change Act, an ambitious UK

government would seek to be a world leader by committing to a target of net zero

emissions by 2050.'

EXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS CRACKER

If you are looking to splash around a vast amount of money this Christmas, why

not contact The Royal Mint? It has just launched Britain's most expensive ever

Christmas crackers - which include a solid gold bar and gold diamond necklace.

A pack of six of the crackers will set you back £5000, but at least they also include

a traditional hat and joke. Fortnum and Mason has previously sold sets for about

£500.

There is a large demand for the £5000 crackers, which form the Mint's first gift

range in its 1100 year history. And if for any reason you don't want to spend £5000

on six Christmas crackers, the other gifts on offer range from a sixpence spoon set

to a gold teddy bear. Go to: https://www.royalmint.com/gifts/

24

THE CONVERSION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE

We think of the traditional British Christmas as a few days off work, a family get-

together and a big meal. In fact, that only goes back to Victorian times. Before that

it was a religious event, with church services and carols, but not a great community

event. Among important influences on the change was a single story by Charles

Dickens, 'A Christmas Carol’, first published 175 years ago this December. It is in

effect a morality fable, with a memorable anti-hero, Scrooge, and a splendid happy

ending.

Ebenezer Scrooge ran his business with single-minded dedication to profit. His

former partner, Marley, had died, and now in sole charge he decided to impose a

more rigorous regime. There would be no Christmas Day off for his assistant Bob

Cratchit, which ruled out the family’s hopes of a celebration meal together. Bob’s

wife Martha was shocked, but Bob valued his job and said nothing. Scrooge, who

regarded all such fanciful stuff as ‘humbug’ remained immovable, despite pleas to

the contrary.

That was, until Christmas Eve. That night he had a series of dream-like visions.

The first was of his late partner, Marley, begging him to reconsider his attitude.

There then followed three ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past’ was a vision of his

own unhappy childhood. Then came the ‘Ghost of Christmas Present’ about the

disappointment and tears his decision had brought to the Cratchit family. The third

was the most powerful – the ‘Ghost of Christmas Future’, in which he saw his own

grave. Was this how he wanted to be remembered?

When he awoke on Christmas morning, Ebenezer Scrooge was a changed man.

Bob need not work on Christmas day, and Scrooge himself would furnish a

sumptuous meal for them all. The whole day was transformed – tears of joy

(Dickens knew all about tears) and finally the junior of the family, Tiny Tim

rounded off the whole experience with a cry of ‘Merry Christmas, everyone.'

The story captured not only the public mood but also the public’s heart. This was

the sort of Christmas they wanted. And gradually it began to take shape – holidays

for workers, charity for the poor, warmth and love in the family. Eventually the law

and the work of trade unions gave the new tradition a feeling of permanence, but

there’s no doubt Dickens' 'Christmas Carol' story started it all.

Canon David Winter

LEARN A POEM BY HEART THIS CHRISTMAS

That is the challenge Gyles Brandreth, actor and broadcaster set his grandchildren

this year. Memorising poetry is good for everyone. Brandreth cites scientific

research to say that memorising poetry can help keep your brain fit and well.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who recently took over from the Queen as patron of

The Royal Society of Literature, admits to reciting poems to herself as she goes to

sleep. Dame Judi Dench can still recite the whole of Twelfth Night and A

Midsummer Night's Dream.

25

26

St Hilda’s Church

Hall Stanwell Road, Ashford,

Middlesex, TW15 3QL

Halls for hire

Planning a celebration, party or

meeting?

Need a venue for a function?

The Main and Small Halls at

St Hilda’s are available for Hire.

Rates start from

under £10 per hour.

For details and availability, contact

the Hall Booking Secretary:

Chris Davenport 01784 252170

at St Hilda’s Church Hall,

Stanwell Road, Ashford

OFSTED Registered Pre-school

for Children aged 2½–5 years

For more information and a

prospectus please call Alison on

01784 243570

Term Time Only:

Mon—Thu (9am - 3pm) &

Fridays (9am - 1pm)

27

HOLMES & DAUGHTERS

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

A family business, offering to the bereaved

A complete courteous and personal service

Funerals arranged in any area, Highest Standards

Superb Jaguar Fleet

Private Chapels of Rest

In your time of need phone Day or Night

All calls will receive immediate personal attention

Telephone: (01784) 421015 3 Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Also at 4 High Street, Feltham. 020 8893 1860

28


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